Reykjavik on edge as experts warn of gas impact within hours after recent volcanic explosion

A recent volcanic explosion near the town of Grindavik, about 30km from Reykjavik, has triggered warnings of potential gas pollution reaching the Icelandic capital. The Met Office released an update on Tuesday, cautioning that the seismic activity could persist for months, leaving locals anxious about the impending consequences.

Monday night’s eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula sent lava and smoke soaring over 100 meters into the air, capping weeks of intense seismic activity. While the Icelandic government assured the public that the eruption poses no threat to life, nervous residents in Reykjavik brace themselves for potential gas pollution.

The proximity of the eruption to Reykjavik, just 30km away, raises concerns, with experts anticipating the city to be affected by gas “within hours.” The lava flow, fortunately, appears to be directed away from Grindavik, offering hope that homes and lives may be spared.

Despite government assurances, Associate Professor Halldor Geirson from the University of Iceland’s Institute of Earth Sciences warns that the seismic activity might extend for several months. While the lava flow has decreased, Geirson emphasizes the unpredictable nature of volcanic events, stating, “It could also just stop later today or tomorrow.”

He acknowledges the current lava flow direction, mostly to the north, but highlights the potential threat to Grindavik, depending on the topography and openings. Previously, authorities evacuated nearly 4,000 people from Grindavik on November 11, anticipating an eruption.

In 2010, ash clouds from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano led to significant disruptions, grounding thousands of flights across Europe. However, meteorologists suggest that the current eruption, unlike Eyjafjallajokull, might not majorly impact air travel. Luca D’Auria, from Spain’s Canary Islands’ Volcano Monitoring Area, explains that for an eruption to pose a threat to aviation, it would need to propagate southward into the sea.

Weather forecasting service AccuWeather supports this notion, stating that if little to no volcanic ash is released into the atmosphere, aviation might remain unaffected. Icelandic authorities reassure the public that flights in and out of the country continue as usual, with international flight corridors remaining open.

Despite these assurances, travellers remain cautious, as the latest eruption has already caused delays, such as an easyJet flight to Manchester experiencing over a five-hour delay from Keflavik airport.

As Iceland navigates the complexities of volcanic activity, residents and travellers alike are left waiting to see the full extent of the eruption’s impact and whether further disruptions, including gas pollution and flight delays, will unfold in the coming days.